Implementing a structured psychosocial interventions group programme for people with bipolar disorder

It has been reported that, at any time, over half of the people with bipolar disorder are receiving no active treatment. Despite the availability of effective medications and psychotherapies, research concludes that the care of bipolar disorder in everyday practice is often deficient. Evidence base reports the effectiveness of psychosocial interventions using many of the same ideas as the recovery approach; both attempt to place clients at the heart of service delivery. This paper reports on the development and implementation of three pilot group programmes for service users with bipolar disorder, in a community clinical setting in South East England. The group programme design and development was based upon the evidence-based psychosocial interventions advocated in national clinical guidelines and research literature. The programme incorporated the key effective psychosocial interventions and self-management mechanisms within its 12 sessions spanning over 3 months, followed by three booster sessions in 6 months' time. Twenty-three service users have to date completed the programme. Participant feedback will be discussed and reported to inform further development and research implications of such innovative evidence-based interventions for service users with bipolar disorder.